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Good Jobs for Wisconsin
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The
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin
, based in Keshena in Menominee County in northern Wisconsin, has existed in what is now Wisconsin and upper Michigan for centuries. The Tribe,
one of Wisconsin’s poorest
, has 8,700 enrolled members and operates numerous social service, educational and health programs for its members. The Tribe also operates the small
Menominee Casino-Bingo-Hotel
on its Reservation.
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In the early 1800s, the Menominee occupied a land base estimated at 10 million acres; however, through a
series of treaties
with the U.S. government during the 1800s, the Tribe witnessed its land base erode to little more than 235,000 acres today.
The Tribe experienced further setbacks in the 1950s when Congress passed the
Menominee Termination Act
, which removed federal recognition over the Tribe and threatened to deprive Menominee people of their cultural identity. The Tribe won back federal recognition in 1973 through a long and difficult grassroots movement, but has yet to overcome the economic damage wrought by this devastating period in its history.
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Among Wisconsin’s 72 counties, Menominee County is unquestionably the one with the greatest and most immediate need. According to the
UW School of Medicine and Public Health
– Public Health Institute, in 2010 Menominee County ranked:
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* Lowest in overall health quality
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* Highest in mortality
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* Highest in smoking during pregnancy
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* Highest in obesity
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* Highest in unemployment
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* Highest in number of children living in poverty
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* Highest in violent crime
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* Highest in the number of single-parent households
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The Menominee Indian Tribe will devote revenue from the Kenosha project to meeting the needs of its members in the areas of housing, health, education, law enforcement, social services and other cultural and governmental programs. Kenosha revenue will help create approximately 200 permanent jobs on the Menominee Reservation.
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Over the first 10 years of operations in Kenosha, the Tribe expects approximately $300 million in revenue to support these needs. Even after that, however, the Tribe anticipates an additional $300 million in unmet needs will still exist on its Reservation. View the resolution for the
Approval of Ten Year Budget Plan for Kenosha Revenue.
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The Tribe will spend its Kenosha Revenues on specific items such as:
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* Expansion of Clinic Services to address unmet dental, diabetes, radiology, prenatal, mental health, emergency medical services, etc.
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* Construction of new Clinic to replace outdated facility
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* Construction of 100 new homes and apartment buildings to provide adequate housing
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* Constructing and staffing for a juvenile corrections facility
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* Replace outdated Tribal K-8 School
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* Provide funding to allow Menominee students to attend college and technical school
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* Provide funding to maintain Menominee language education
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By having the Kenosha Entertainment Center and Casino, it will tremendously improve the quality of life for the Menominee people in numerous ways.
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2014 Menominee Tribal Legislature
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Left to Right: (Back Row) Vyron Dixon III; Randy Reiter; Gary Besaw; Craig Corn; Lisa Waukau; Ruth Waupoose
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(Front Row) Crystal Chapman Chevalier, Vice Chair; Laurie Boivin, Chairwoman; and Joan Delabreau, Secretary
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